Have you ever visited a cafe and clicked some nice pictures in overhead lighting? Or loved the way light fixtures are placed in your friend’s hallway? People choose the right lighting for their homes depending on the space.
A perfect lighting choice adds a touch of luxury and comfort. If you want to learn how to choose the right lighting for your home, we are here to help. Let’s begin.
- Understanding Lighting Types and Layering
- Choosing Light Fixtures for Different Areas of a House
- Role of Colour Temperatures
- Light Placement
- Bonus Tips for Choosing Home Lighting
- FAQs
Understanding Lighting Types and Layering
Most people don’t focus much on the type of lighting they use for a particular space. But this is where lies the key difference to improve a house’s look and value.
As per the National Institute of Health, good lighting has been proven to enhance mood. Playing around with types of lights and their placements can do wonders for your home. Let’s simplify this and have a look at all one by one.
Types of Lights
When it comes to how to choose the right lighting for your home, you need to understand the type of lights available. There are three basic types of lighting, each suited for specific areas of the house. However, as per expert advice, you should layer lights to bring life to your home. Here is a brief about each type of lighting:
1. Ambient Lighting
When you decide to light up your home, the first thing you go with is ambient lights. Also known as general lighting, these lights serve the purpose of making things visible. In addition to artificial sources, natural lighting also falls within this type. Here are some sources of ambient lighting:
- Natural sunlight coming from windows and doors
- Ceiling lights such as ceiling fans
- Chandeliers
- Wall sconces
- Floor lamps
- Track lighting
- Pendant lights
2. Task Lighting
Do you have a reading corner or a study desk? Task lighting can elevate the look of these dedicated task spaces. Just as the name suggests, task lighting is used for specific tasks that require high attention and focus.
These tasks could be reading, working, working in some areas of the kitchen, under cabinet lighting and more. Here are some sources of task lights to consider:
- Study lamps
- Cabinet bulbs
- Track lights for makeup
- Small pendant lights
3. Accent Lighting
Do you have an art gallery in your home? Or a precious decor piece? Why not showcase it with the help of accent lights? These lights serve the purpose of enhancing the beauty of decor pieces or specific spaces of your house.
Some people use accent lights as a mood booster. Here are a few sources of accent lighting to make all the difference your house needs:
- Wall lights
- Lanterns
- Wall sconces
- Recessed lighting
- LED lights
Layering Lights
Layer at least two types of lights in a room to get a luxury look. Within these types, sources of light are used depending on the space.
Choosing Light Fixtures for Different Areas of a House
How to choose the right lighting for your home depends on the type of your property. Different house spaces require varying degrees of lighting according to needs. Choosing the right fit sparks life into your home.
If you don’t know what type of light suits what space, moving forward, we will break it down.
Natural Lighting: Where It Fits?
There could be nothing better than sunlight coming inside your living room and elevating its look. Adding to this, natural light is good for health. With natural daylight, you can reduce light usage during the daytime.
Quick Tip: Search for areas where natural lights directly come in. This can be your living room or a bedroom. Use windows and large openings to increase light exposure.
Lighting by Space
Let’s discuss what type of lights fit specific spaces of a house:
1. Foyer
Your house should look attractive from the first step inside. This is why the foyer (house front entry) should have focus lighting to leave your visitors in awe. It is best to choose focal lights or ambient lights for this space to create an aesthetic look. Here are some common fixtures:
Fixture | Type |
Pendant | Ambient |
Chandelier | Ambient |
Wall Sconces | Ambient |
Quick Tip: You can pair up lights with mirrors in your house foyer to create a dreamy look.
2. Kitchen
Your kitchen is the place where you make delicious food memories. Hence, perfect lighting plays an important role. From chopping veggies to teaching your kids along, combine different lighting layers for specific tasks. Decorate your kitchen with these sources of light:
Fixture | Type | Use |
Ceiling fans | Ambient | To light up the entire kitchen |
Flush mount | Ambient | Provide focused centre lighting |
Mini Pendant | Task | Specific tasks such as chopping |
Under cabinet lights or bulbs | Task | For lighting up cabinets |
Recessed | Accent | Placed at different areas of a kitchen to enhance mood |
Pendant | Ambient | Perfect for kitchen tables or counter |
Quick Tip: A kitchen design tip is to play with colours and textures. You can use disco lights to elevate the look of your kitchen.
3. Bathroom
Give your bathroom a luxury feel with some small lighting changes. Bathrooms should have comfortable lights while blending sufficient lighting. Some common types of lights used for bathrooms are:
Fixture | Type | Use |
Vanity lights | Task | Mostly used above mirrors |
Chandelier | Ambient | To give an elegant look |
Wall Sconces | Task | It can be used for lighting up specific areas, such as shaving or makeup |
Quick Tip: Use lighting styles as per your bathroom’s overall colour and texture. This combination will give it a luxurious feel.
4. Bedroom
A place where we relax must be comfy. To bring a cosy feeling to your bedroom, use a layer of lights. You can use task lights for study tables, dimmers or table lamps for sleeping, and ambient lights to make your bedroom look bigger.
In addition, having windows in your room allows ventilation and natural light exposure. This makes your bedroom look bigger. Here are some bedroom light fixtures:
Fixture | Type | Use |
Lamps | Task | To provide lighting to the entire bedroom |
Ceiling fan | Ambient | It can be used on bedside, tables or study tables |
Wall sconces | Ambient | Evenly distribute light in a bedroom |
Quick Tip: To give a cosy look to your bedroom, use warm colour temperatures.
5. Living or Dining Room
Balancing lights in a living room is important since people use this area for a variety of activities. These activities can include having meals, arranging parties, hosting get-togethers, displaying art and even having kids play around. Here are some fixtures to consider:
Fixture | Type | Use |
Chandelier | Ambient | Serves as a centre of attraction and adds a luxury touch |
Dimmers | Task | To adjust lights based on activity |
Wall Sconces or Pendant lights | Accent | To light up an area like an art piece or a photo frame |
Quick Tip: Use dimmers to adjust lights for a variety of activities.
Role of Colour Temperatures
The colour temperatures of lighting fixtures range from warm to cool. They play an important role in balancing the environment, enhancing mood and setting up the ambience. Here is a list of different colour temperatures:
- 2700 to 3000 K (mostly give a warm, cosy, and relaxing feel)
- 3000 K (A balanced temperature used in environments where natural light comes in)
- 3100 to 4500 K (Bright lighting used in high functionality or productivity areas)
Light Placement
Suppose you have bought different types of lights but end up placing them in the wrong way. This is where you should follow these quick tips:
- Decide where you want to place the lights. If you want to focus on an art piece, that would be your placement point.
- If your room has enough natural light coming in, pair it up with dim lights.
- When placing lights, ensure that you avoid placing opposite surfaces that can cast shadows.
- Don’t overdue on lighting. There should be a balance in the light temperatures.
- Utilise dimmers to adjust lighting as needed.
Bonus Tips for Choosing Home Lighting
Here are some additional tips to consider when choosing lights:
- Consider sustainable and energy-efficient options such as LED lights.
- Use natural lighting wherever possible.
- Compliment light styles with house patterns.
FAQs
For designing a home office, play with ambient and task lights. Use table lamps and work desks to give a productive feel.
You can hire the best interior design companies in Dubai and let them choose the perfect lighting for your home. These include:
– 4Space Interior Design
– VSHD Design
– Algedra
– XBD Collective
– Anarchitect
– Artizan Interior Design
With this guide, you can easily learn how to choose the right lighting for your home.
You can add a touch of luxury with perfect lighting to your home’s aesthetics. After all, your home is your happy space!
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